Memoirs of the editor of French Elle Magazine after he had a stroke rendering him completely paralysed bar his left eye. He wrote the book through a special mode of translation devised by his speech therapist in which she read out letters and he blinked when he wanted to use it. Excellent, excellent book... that is if she doesn't already have it.

Actually I loved it, so much so that I got the book and then I was angry. I know films will always use artistic license but the way the film plays fast and loose with the facts is quite disrespectful, especially given that the events are relatively recent.

It's stupid things like the fact that he has an extra fictional child and more major issues like the fact that his wife is shown as sticking by him while his 'other woman' only visits him near the end when in truth it was the other way round. Julian Schnabel should be ashamed of himself and I'm glad his new film is getting panned. So, yes, get the book but don't watch the film.

There's loads about it on the net but you only need to compare the book and film to make your own mind up.

i was asking more for a female opinion really. i could think of plenty of books that i'd like that i could get her but i don't want it to look like i'm going "here you are...happy christmas, my love...hope you like the books...but if you aren't going to read them right now d'yer mind if i read them first?"

Novel about the residents of a very posh Parisian apartment block. The two main female characters are these brilliant autodidacts who feel they have to hide their intelligence. Full of philosophical musings and literary allusions.
Amazing book. I'm not female though.

Definitely read before watching the film (or the film's trailer, which gives away most of the key plot points. It's a beautiful book, with almost universal appeal. If she likes it, there's a guaranteed date for when the film comes out. The Magus by John Fowles is the best book I've read this year. It's a good psychological yarn, with appeal for anyone interested in psychology and mythoogy, but accessable, and remarkably similar to the David Fincher film 'The Game' or The Prestige, in a way.

Really need to re-read it as it's been a good 15 years or so.
Your mention of The Prestige reminded me of another recommendation: Carter Beats The Devil by Glen David Gold. Cracking book about stage magicians in them olden days of yore.

and full of the Christmas spirit. Also, it's a book regularly found in serial killer's / kidnappers libraries. My copy was bought second hand and has loads of passages underlined. Although deep down, I know it's because someone studied it for their A level or something, but I really, really want it to be have belonged previously to a serial killer.

I enjoyed recieving like coffee table books for christmas and birthdays. I never know what people have read and what they haven't so hardly ever buy people fiction unless they have hinted they want a specific book.
If she's seen the satc movie (i just watched it and have now talked about it far too much) then get her a copy of that 'love letters of great men'. Its a nice little book to read. Theres also another one out from the people who put together that 'i lick my cheese' which is a collection of little notes from boyfriends and girlfriends (i think its called "i love you with custard on top" - don't hold me to that though) I really want this for christmas but haven't asked anyone for it so will probably just wait til the new year to get it.
It depends what kind of books she likes really. I wouldn't be happy with a chick lit book.